Find out how popular the last name Zitko is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zitko.

Zitko, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zitko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zitko in America

Zitko is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zitko surname appeared 244 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zitko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zitko to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zitko

The surname Zitko has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within the regions that are now part of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This surname is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely around the 13th to 15th centuries, as family names began to solidify in these areas.

The name Zitko is derived from a diminutive form of the personal name Zit. The name Zit itself has Slavic roots, originating from the word "žito," which means "grain" or "corn." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname might have been involved in agriculture or grain cultivation, which was common in rural Central and Eastern Europe.

Historical references to the surname Zitko are found in various regional records and manuscripts. One of the earliest documented mentions appears in a 14th-century register in the Kingdom of Bohemia, a medieval and early modern country, which is now part of the Czech Republic. This suggests the name was well-established by that time.

The earliest known individual with the surname Zitko is Ivan Zitko, a peasant farmer from the Moravian region, recorded in 1425. Another early instance of the name can be found in the 15th century, belonging to Mikulas Zitko, a soldier who fought in the Hussite Wars, specifically noted in documents from 1436.

Across the centuries, the Zitko name persisted, appearing in various forms in historical records. During the Austro-Hungarian period, a prominent figure was Jan Zitko (1630–1704), a scribe and chronicler who documented local events in Moravia. His works provide valuable insights into the life and times of his era.

In the 18th century, the name appears again in a different context with Katarina Zitko (1749–1815), an herbalist and healer known in her Slovakian village for maintaining traditional healing practices. Her knowledge was passed down through generations, earning her a place in local folklore.

The surname continues to be distinguished into the 19th century with Josef Zitko (1782–1851), an elected municipal leader in a small Czech village who played a significant role in local agricultural reforms and improvements in communal living standards.

The longevity and consistent appearances of the surname Zitko in historical records highlight its enduring legacy in the regions of present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia. Each bearer's contributions, whether in agriculture, warfare, chronicling, or community leadership, underscore the diverse backgrounds and impactful lives of those who carried this surname throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zitko

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zitko.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zitko was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zitko has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zitko was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zitko, please contact us.

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